Boston man pleads guilty, gets life sentence for 2014 Malden murder

Wednesday

Mar 29, 2017 at 7:07 PMMar 29, 2017 at 7:07 PM

The following was released by the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan.

Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Malden Chief of Police Kevin Molis have announced that Juan Buruca, 41, of Boston, pled guilty today in Middlesex Superior Court to second degree murder, armed assault with intent to murder, two counts of armed assault in a dwelling, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury and burglary in connection with a 2014 double stabbing that resulted in the death of Jorge Machado Mejia, 48, of Malden, and serious injuries to a second 45-year-old Malden male. Judge Kathe Tuttman sentenced the defendant to life in prison.

An investigation by State Police and Malden Police revealed that on August 8, 2014, the defendant was visited in his Boston home by the two male victims from Malden, Jorge Machado Mejia and his roommate. The two men had come to confront the defendant, believing that the defendant’s treatment of a woman known to them was not appropriate. The three men argued and a physical altercation took place before the two men left the defendant’s home. The defendant reported the incident at 10:00 p.m. that night to Boston Police who responded to the defendant’s home. After Boston Police left, the defendant packed a backpack with a large hunting knife and traveled to Malden. He entered the Newhall Street apartment of the two victims and waited for them. At approximately 1:15 a.m., on August 9, 2014, the victims returned home. As they were entering the apartment, the defendant jumped out and stabbed both of them before fleeing.

The defendant was located walking on Exchange Street in Malden shirtless and covered in blood. His shirt was located by authorities near the Newhall Street residence. Inside the shirt, police found a bloody knife.

Both victims were transported to local-area hospitals. Machado Mejia was pronounced dead at Cambridge Health Alliance Hospital in Everett. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined the cause of death to be multiple stab wounds to the torso, upper extremities, and injuries to the heart, lungs and liver. The second victim sustained serious injuries and was treated and then released.

This case was investigated by Massachusetts State Police assigned to the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Malden Police Department.

The prosecutor assigned to this case was Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Dunigan. The Victim Witness Advocate was Kristen Chamberlain.